Peasant women join 'DefendTheBay' campaign

MANILA: The peasant women group Amihan or National Federation of Peasant Women expressed support to the launching of Manila Bay Watch at the Malate church in Manila. It is a broad alliance against reclamation projects and pushing for genuine rehabilitation. The fisherfolk group Pamalakaya-Pilipinas, chaired by former Anakpawis Rep. Fernando "Ka Pando" Hicap, is one of the lead convenors.

"We join the call to defend the bay and right to livelihood of fisherfolk and urban poor families who will be affected by the reclamation projects of the Duterte government," stated by Zen Soriano, Amihan National Chairperson. 

According to Pamalakaya-Pilipinas, there are 43 planned reclamation projects totaling of 32,000 hectares of land in Manila Bay with a government budget of P43 billion.

"This is wholesale displacement of poor sectors under Duterte, just to benefit private and foreign businesses", added by Soriano.

Amihan said that Manila Bay remains a major source of fish and marine products, especially via the communities in Navotas City, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga at Bataan coastlines. 

In relation, the group condemned the attempts of the local government of Bacoor to bar house repairs and restoration of families who fell victims to consecutive incidents of fire at fishing communities. The victims affiliated with Pamalakaya-Pilipinas are resisting the planned reclamation project that will displace them.

"We urge various sectors, especially the women who bear the hard task on working on a shrinking family budget, to support the campaign against reclamation projects and support the call for the genuine rehabilitation of Manila Bay. We are all beneficiaries of the livelihood of fisherfolk and poor workers in Manila Bay," ended by Soriano. (AMIHAN)